ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Defence
Exercise Mitra Shakti -VII: 2019
The seventh edition of Exercise MITRA SHAKTI- 2019 aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational efficiency amongst the armies of both India and Sri Lanka when deployed as part of United Nations peace keeping forces commenced on 01 December at Aundh Military Station, Pune.
The objective of the exercise is to build and promote positive relations between armies of India and Sri Lanka through focus on sub unit level training on counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations in urban and rural environment under United Nations mandate. The joint training exercise also signifies the strength of India-Sri Lanka relations in the field of military cooperation and engagement, which is vital for refining the interoperability and operational preparedness.
The joint exercise is designed for incorporating the current dynamics of United Nations peace keeping operations through practical and comprehensive discussions and tactical exercises. The primary focus of the joint training exercise will remain on field craft, battle drills and procedures as also the ability to operate jointly with seamless interoperability.
As member nations of the United Nations, the participating contingents will gain immensely through joint operability and enhanced military and diplomatic association.
Ministry of Defence
Navy brings cheers to the residents of Cheriya Kadamakudi
As part of the rehabilitation activities being undertaken by the Southern Naval Command after the devastating floods of August 2018, Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief , Southern Naval Command, handed over the keys of newly constructed houses to three smiling families of Cheriya kadmakkudi on 28 Mar 19. The houses that were sponsored by the Indian Navy belong to Shri Binu PP of Puliyal Parambil House, Mrs Mariyamma of Pashni Parambil House, and Shri Joseph Antony of Madathil Parambil House, and have been constructed at a total cost of Rs. 28 lakhs. These new houses were built as per specific suggestions and requirements of each house owner. Each house has bedrooms, drawing room and kitchen with modern amenities such as vitrified tiles in all the rooms and electrical fittings etc. The project was being steered by INS Venduruthy and has been completed in precisely five and a half months.
In addition, the Navy is installing solar power equipment in all the 55 houses of Cheriya Kadmakkudi, of which 30 have been completed, including the three newly constructed houses. Cheriya Kadamakudi, will therefore be a fully Green Village in the next few weeks.
The residents of the village were in for a big surprise, when the C-in-C announced construction of a steel Arch Bridge connecting Cheriya Kadamakudi with Pizhala Island and laid the foundation stone for the same. The residents have been requesting for a new bridge since the floods receded, as the existing concrete walkway bridge has been in a dilapidated condition for long, and it was recently declared unsafe even for pedestrian traffic by the PWD. The new bridge will be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge and will be 50 metres long and 3.5 metres wide. Vehicles up to 4 tons will be able to ply on this bridge, thus providing the much-needed connectivity to the villagers.
The C-in-C was accompanied by Mrs Sapana Chawla, President, Navy Wives Welfare Association , and few other senior officers. Vice Admiral Chawla was taken around the new constructions and had a good interaction with the happy families. Mrs Chawla also distributed sweets to these families.
The Rehabilitation Package was earlier announced by Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff during his visit to Muttinakam in Aug 2018, and has been funded by the Indian Navy, which includes contributions from service personnel of Southern Naval Command.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves transfer of 40 acres of AAI land at RR station, Dahisar to MMRDA for its metro shed swapping with 40 acres of State Government land at Gorai, Mumbai
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has given its approval for transfer of 40 acres of Airports Authority of India  land at RR station, Dahisar to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority  for its metro shed swapping with 40 acres of State Government land at Gorai, Mumbai. The land transaction will enable MMRDA to complete the Metro rail project in Mumbai.
Modalities:
While considering the proposal, the Cabinet has approved following modalities:
i. MMRDA will pay the difference in cost of land of 40 acres, as per the stamp duty ready reckoner rate based on 2016-17 arrived at Rs. 472.70 crore or as per the ready reckoner rate at the time of final handing over of land, whichever is higher.
ii. MMRDA will hand over the 40 acres of land at Gorai after leveling, grading and demarcating the boundary in all respects. MMRDA will also hand over all the land documents, revenue maps of Gorai land duly mutated in the Records of Rights in the name of AAI.
iii. MMRDA will identify / demarcate 40 acres of land retaining 24 acres of land for AAI, with clear access / approach from the nearby city road.
iv. AAl will also handover at least 2000 sqm. of land at Dahisar in advance on temporary basis.
Employment Generation Potential:
The present proposal will generate employment for skilled, semi-skilled labourers along with job opportunities for technical experts, also there will be creation of jobs in manufacturing industries involved in the metro construction work. After operationalisation of Metro Car Shed, there will be generation/ creation of direct/indirect employment.
Background:
Maharashtra Government is implementing Mumbai Metro Rail Master Plan  in phases to augment the overall public transport capacity of Mumbai. A special purpose vehicle namely, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation  under the MMRDA has been erected for implementing the Mumbai Metro project. MMRC has planned to construct a car shed on the Dahisar  to Andheri  metro corridor. A portion of the identified land for car shed i.e. 17.47 Ha  is owned by AAI. AAI owns a total land area of approx. 64 acres at Dahisar where Remote Receiving Station is located. Some part of the land is encroached.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government of India sanctions Rs. 15000 crores for India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package
Government of India  has announced significant investments to the tune of Rs.15000 crores for 'India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package'. The funds sanctioned will be utilized for immediate COVID-19 Emergency Response  and rest for medium-term support  to be provided under mission mode approach.
The key objectives of the package include mounting emergency response to slow and limit COVID-19 in India through the development of diagnostics and COVID-19 dedicated treatment facilities, centralized procurement of essential medical equipment and drugs required for treatment of infected patients, strengthen and build resilient National and State health systems to support prevention and preparedness for future disease outbreaks, setting up of laboratories and bolster surveillance activities, bio-security preparedness, pandemic research and proactively engage communities and conduct risk communication activities. These interventions and initiatives would be implemented under the overall umbrella of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The Hon'ble Prime Minister in his address to the Nation on 24th March 2020 highlighted that - "The Central Government has provisioned 15 thousand crore rupees for treating Coronavirus patients and strengthening the medical infrastructure of the country. This will allow for rapidly ramping up the number of Corona testing facilities, Personal Protective Equipment , Isolation Beds, ICU beds, ventilators and other essential equipment. Simultaneously, training of medical and paramedical manpower will also be undertaken. I have requested the State Governments to ensure that only healthcare is treated as their first and topmost priority now."
The major share of the expenditure will be used for mounting robust emergency response, strengthening National and State health systems followed by strengthening pandemic research and multi-sector national institutions and platforms for One Health, community engagement and risk communication and implementation, management, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation component. M/o Health & Family Welfare is authorized to re-appropriate resources among components of the package and among the various implementation agencies  as per the evolving emergent situation.
MoHFW has been playing a lead role in executing the health sector response with containment and control as key response strategies. As on date, a total of 223 labs comprising a network of 157 government & 66 private laboratories are conducting rigorous screening process. Furthermore, MoHFW has already disbursed Rs. 4113 Crore to all the States and UTs for dealing with the emergency COVID response.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Assistance to internally displaced people in the country
5248 displaced Kashmiri families living in migrant camps in Jammu and 5407 Bru families living in relief camps in Tripura are being provided assistance: Shri G. Kishan Reddy
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, in a written reply to a question regarding assistance to internally displaced people in the country, in Rajya Sabha today, said that 5248 displaced Kashmiri families living in migrant camps in Jammu and 5407 Bru families living in relief camps in Tripura are being provided assistance by the Ministry.
Shri Reddy added that these displaced Kashmiri families have been housed in concrete multi-storied structures and free electricity & water supply is provided in the camps. He also said that other facilities like 10+2 level schools, hospitals/medical facilities, and Community halls have also been provided in almost all camps and scholarship, employment, assistance to agriculturists/horticulturists, banking support etc. are also provided to the camp-dwellers.
Shri Reddy remarked that under the Prime Minister’s Development Package, 2015 , the Government approved a scheme for grant of one-time financial assistance of Rs. 5.5 lakhs per family to run small business, undertake farming, livestock etc.
The Minister noted that in order to accommodate displaced persons, the Government has approved construction of 6,000 transit accommodations at a cost of Rs. 920 crores for 3000 Kashmiri migrants employed under Pradhan Mantri Reconstruction Package-2008  and for 3000 additional migrants under PMDP-2015.
Shri Reddy also said that under the Security Related Expenditure , the expenditure incurred by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir is reimbursed by Central Government towards a) cash relief to Kashmiri migrants and Jammu Migrants at the rate of Rs. 3250 per person with the ceiling of Rs. 13,000/- per family per month and b) basic dry ration to the needy Kashmiri migrants at the rate of 9 Kg of rice and 2 Kg of atta per person and 1 Kg of sugar per family per month. He added that cash relief is also provided to Kashmiri migrants settled in Delhi/NCR at the rate of Rs. 13,000/- per family per month with the support of Government of NCT of Delhi.
Shri Reddy further clarified that under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Package-2008 , 3,000 State Government jobs have been created for the Kashmiri migrants, out of which 2905 posts have been filled till date. Further, under PMDP-2015, the Government has approved creation of 3,000 additional State Government jobs for the Kashmiri migrants at a cost of Rs. 1,080 crores. Out of this, appointment orders in respect of 528 candidates have been issued and consequently 254 have been placed. 5% seats are reserved course-wise for wards of Kashmiri migrants in colleges in Delhi University.
On the issue of Brus, Shri Reddy said that an agreement was signed on 3rd July, 2018 between Government of India, Government of Mizoram, Government of Tripura and Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum  for repatriation of all 5407 Bru Families. A total of 1950 families have been repatriated to Mizoram upto 30.11.2019.
Ministry of Power
Guidelines for operationalizing optimum utilization of generating stations as per the requirement in the Electricity Grid
It has been brought to the notice of the Government that some power plants are not generating to their full capacity at any given time and the unutilized capacity remains idle as they are tied up under power purchase agreements. Whereas in the public interest, such power needs to be despatched, where there is a requirement in the grid by the other users or consumers.
As per the Tariff Policy, 2016, power stations are required to be available and ready to dispatch at all times. For optimum utilization of un-requisitioned generation capacity of any generating stations regulated under Section 62 as well as those having PPA under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003, the generators have been permitted to sell power in the power market in consonance with laid down policy of the Central Government.
Keeping the above factors in view and after careful consideration, Union Minister of Power and MNRE Shri R K Singh approved the following guidelines in accordance with the aforesaid provisions of the Tariff Policy, 2016.
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- Where the procurer does not requisition power from the power plant with which he has signed the Power Purchase Agreement , upto 24 hours in advance prior to 00.00 hrs of the day of delivery of power, the generator shall be free to sell the unrequisitioned power in the power exchange.
- Where the procurer decides not to schedule power for any period, either full or part capacity, from the generating station with which he has signed the PPA, which may be more than 24 hours in advance, the generator shall be free to sell the un-requisitioned power, for the period for which it has not been requisitioned, in the power exchange.
- The developer and the procurers having the PPA would share the gains realized from sale, if any, of such un-requisitioned power in  and  above in power exchange in the ratio of 50:50, if not otherwise provided in the PPA. Such gain will be calculated asthe difference between selling price of such power and the Energy Charge Rate  as determined under section 62 or section 63 of the Electricity Act 2003.
- The obligation for the procurer with regard to the fixed charges shall remain same in accordance with the PPA.
- The above provisions shall apply both for the power plants whose tariff has been determined under Section-62 or Section-63 of the Electricity Act 2003.
The power plants shall continue to have obligations and duties to make their plants available as per the terms of the PPA.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 175.86 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 12.89 Crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses still available with States/UTs
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
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VACCINE DOSES
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SUPPLIED
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1,75,86,44,620
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BALANCE AVAILABLE
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12,89,25,601
More than 175.86 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 12.89 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Ministry of Defence
Waiver in Landing charges at Defence Airports
Exemption from payment of landing and parking charges for civil aircraft operating from IAF airfields under Regional Connectivity Scheme has already been published in the Gazette of India for 32 airfields and 5 Advanced Landing Grounds.
The details of exemption given with respect to the airfields/ALG is given below.
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1. Adampur
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20. Jammu
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2. Agra
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21. Jorhat
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3. Ambala
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22. Kalaikunda
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4. Awantipur
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23. Kargil
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5. Allahabad
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24. Kanpur 
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6. Bagdogra
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25. Pathankot
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7. Bareilly
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26. Pune
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8. Bidar
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27. Sarsawa
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9. Bikaner 
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28. Silchar
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10. Bhatinda
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29. Srinagar
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11. Car Nicobar
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30. Tezpur
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12. Chandigarh
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31. Thanjavur
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13. Gorakhpur
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32. Uttarlai
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14. Darbhanga
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33. Along 
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15. Gwalior
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34. Passighat 
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16. Hashimara
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35. Tuting 
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17. Hindon
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36. Walong 
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18. Jamnagar
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37. Ziro 
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19. Jaisalmer
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In Joint user airfields, civil apron maintenance is done by Airport Authority of India and remaining airfield area  maintenance is done by Indian Air Force.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik in a written reply to Shri Sambhaji Chhatrapati in Rajya Sabha today.
Nampi/HS
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Ministry of Finance
India, ADB sign $150 million loan to provide affordable housing for urban poor in Tamil Nadu
The Government of India and Asian Development Bank  today signed a $150 million loan to provide access to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable housing for the urban poor in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The signatories to the loan agreement for Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Housing for Urban Poor Sector Project in Tamil Nadu were Shri Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, signed for the Government of India, and Mr. Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, who signed for the ADB.
After signing the loan agreement, Shri Mishra said that the project is aligned with the Government of India’s development priorities and policies on urban sector development, particularly the flagship program PMAY-Housing for All , and will address housing shortage among poor urban dwellers in Tamil Nadu with provision of housing to eligible families.
“Rapid urbanization and growth in Tamil Nadu has created a housing shortfall particularly for low-income households,” said Mr. Konishi. “The project will provide access to affordable housing infrastructure and services to vulnerable and disadvantaged households and catalyze private sector investment in affordable housing”, he added.
Nearly half of Tamil Nadu’s 72 million population lives in urban areas making it one of the most urbanized states in India. Through the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board, the project will construct housing units in nine different locations and relocate about 6,000 households vulnerable to natural hazards to safer locations. It will also help Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Town and Country Planning develop regional plans to map the state’s economic and infrastructure development including affordable housing, environmental protection, disaster risk management, and gender.
A portion of ADB’s assistance will be invested by the state government as equity into the Tamil Nadu Shelter Fund to catalyze private sector financing and support investments mainly in industrial housing and working women’s hostels for low-income and migrant workers.
In addition, ADB will provide a $1.5 million technical assistance  grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund to support the capacity building of government agencies responsible for delivering affordable housing and regional planning in Tamil Nadu. The TA will document successful approaches to affordable housing delivery, including the graduation programme for vulnerable relocated beneficiaries, that can be adopted in other cities and countries.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 187.03 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 16.36 Crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses still available with States/UTs
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
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VACCINE DOSES
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SUPPLIED
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1,87,03,45,095
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BALANCE AVAILABLE
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16,36,11,316
More than 187.03 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 16.36 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Ministry of Defence
ANTI-NARCOTICS OPERATION
In a coordinated operation at sea, Narcotics Control Bureau  and Indian Navy apprehended a suspicious vessel carrying more than 200 kgs of narcotics. The boat with its crew, has been escorted to Kochi for further investigation. This is significant not only in terms of quantity and cost but also signifies a focus on collaborative efforts for disruption of the illegal narcotics smuggling routes, which emanate from the Makran coast and flow towards various IOR countries. Apart from the human costs from drug addiction, the spoils of narcotics trade feed syndicates involved in terrorism, radicalization and criminal activities. Successful conduct of this operation reaffirms our strong commitment and resolve of not allowing seas as global commons being used for illegal activities especially in India’s maritime neighborhood.
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VM/PS 113/22
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